1) FOR CORPORATIONS:

In order to request a power of attorney, the institution granting it should provide the following documents:

1. Send a draft written by a lawyer in Costa Rica, specifying the content of the power of attoreny. Send this information via e-mail to the Consulate of your jurisdiction. Please note that Honorary Consuls cannot sign this kind of power of attorney, so please contact an Official Consulate.
2. Certificate of Good Standing
3. A valid passport from the person signing the power of attorney.
4. A notarial certification stating that:

The person who will sign the power of attorney is acting on his/her capacity of (President, Vice-president, Secretary, etc)  of the entitiy (Company name), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of (State), USA. 

That the entity (Company name), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of (State), USA, located at _________, is duly organized, has present legal existence and that the purposes for which the power of attorney is granted are within the scope of its corporate purposes.

That the person who is signing, has in fact the referred authority and that his/her representation is    legal. 

This notarial certification should follow the authentication process.

5.  A photocopy of the document of identity of the person who receives the power in Costa Rica (if he/she is Costa Rican, then present a photocopy of his/her cédula de identidad).

Once you have these documents, please contact the Consulate of your jurisdiction for an appointment.

Once you are granted the power of attorney, it should be taken to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Costa Rica to authenticate the signature of the Consul.  Depending on the type of power, it may need to be taken to the National Registry.

2)  FOR INDIVIDUALS:

In order to request a power of attorney, the person who grants the power must be present in the Consulate and bring the following documents:

1. Send a draft written by a lawyer in Costa Rica, specifying the content of the power of attorney. Send this information via e-mail to the Consulate of your jurisdiction. Please note that Honorary Consuls cannot sign this kind of power of attorney, so please contact an Official Consulate.
2. Once you have these documents, you should contact the Consulate of your jurisdiction for an appointment and provide the following documents:

If you are Costa Rican, you must present the original and photocopy of your valid I.D. card (cédula).  If you are a foreigner, you must present your own valid passport.

A photocopy of the document of identity of the person who receives the power in Costa Rica (if he/she is Costa Rican, then present a photocopy of his/her cédula de identidad)

3.  Once in the Consulate, you should indicate to us the following information of yourself and the person who receives the power.

- Complete name

- I.D. number

- Occupation

- Marital status (if you were married or divorced, how many times)

- Exact address

4.  If the power is meant to authorize the sale of a property, you should also present the original and photocopies of the property deed.

Time: the proceeding may last up to one hour.

Once you are granted the power, it should be taken to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Costa Rica to authenticate the signature of the Consul.  Depending on the type of power, it may need to be taken to the National Registry.